There was a temple of Mithras opposite to the west end of the Circus Maximus.
You can recognize it in the centre of the picture, identified by a long colonnade
in oriental red rope moulding. This cult imported from Persia was rather secret.
The place of the cult ( mithraeum ) was often an underground place or a grotto.
It had been introduced into Rome by the Emperor Elegabalus and the
popularity which he gave to the Baal of Emesis was confirmed by the Emperor Aurelian,
who assimilated it to the cult of the Sun.
